Opelousas takes Biddy tournament title

Opelousas’ Brylan Green (12) drives through the Madisonville defense during Wednesday’s finals of the 8-Year Old Biddy Boys Basketball World Tournament in Thibodaux.

Keyon K. Jeff/Sports Correspondent

Keyon K. JeffSports Correspondent

Published: Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 10:36 a.m.

It is hard to think of a team of 8 year olds as experienced.

But with three starters who played in last year's 8-year-old Boys Biddy Basketball World Tournament, the Opelousas All-Stars kept their poise and withstood a furious comeback from the Madisonville Thunder Wednesday night in the finals.

Having led most of the game, Opelousas suddenly found themselves down 20-18 with two minutes remaining. On the next two possessions, Christopher Freeman II was at the right place at the right time. He grabbed the offensive rebound and banked in put back shots to regain the lead. Opelousas would go on to win 24-20 and take home the Biddy tournament title at the Thibodaux Civic Center.

"I think experience really helped. Last year we finished eighth or ninth last year. Obviously we did a little better this year," Opelousas coach Jean Harrison said. "We worked hard to get back to this spot. Experience counts. It led the way for everybody else."

Trent Caime scored a game high 12 points for Madisonville, whose only losses in the tourney were to Opelousas.

"I'm proud of our kids. They battled hard, and they've played great for the last five or six weeks," Madisonville coach Eddie Timmons. "(Opelousas) plays a similar style to us. The difference in the game was their big guys hurt us. We couldn't handle their big guys."

Both teams struggled from the floor early on. Murphy nailed back-to-back jumpers in the lane to put Opelousas up 6-2 after the first quarter. A layup from Bryce Coe cut Madisonville's deficit to 10-7 at halftime.

Green began the third quarter by driving into the lane for a basket plus the foul. When Murphy sank a jumper midway through the period, Opelousas had its biggest lead at 16-9. Caime closed out the quarter making 5-of-6 free throws to trim the Thunder deficit to 16-14 entering the final quarter.

Madisonville tied the game on a Grant Kemp jumper to start the fourth. After a Green layup gave Opelousas the lead again, Caime nailed successive running jumpers to put the Thunder ahead with just over two minutes left to play.

"At that point, we felt good about our chances of winning," Timmons explained. "We're here for a reason. Our kids don't quit, and certainly when we got that lead we were right where we thought we would be."

Then Freeman hit the boards and scored his only four points. Braylon Richard sank two free throws to ice the game for Opelousas.

"Those were some big rebounds. Chris has been rebounding well for us all year," Harrison noted. "He really came through at a time when it counted."

While the kids took home medals and plaques for their individual and team accomplishments, the biggest winner was probably the city of Thibodaux.

The five-day tournament generated plenty of positive feedback for the quality of play. Both coaches ensured that they would return in 2014.

"I think it's been a great experience for our kids to learn," Harrison said. "Now they see what a big-time tournament is really like. It's just going to make us better for the next year."

"Initially, we planned on going back-and-forth, but we enjoyed the experience enough that we decided to stay, so the kids missed a couple days of school," Timmons said. "I can't say enough about the people of Thibodaux. Our family and friends and fans enjoyed it, and we'll definitely be back. That's for sure."

MADISONVILLE 26, THIBODAUX 8's 23

Thibodaux took home third place in the tournament after relinquishing a two-point entering the fourth quarter.

<p>It is hard to think of a team of 8 year olds as experienced.</p><p>But with three starters who played in last year's 8-year-old Boys Biddy Basketball World Tournament, the Opelousas All-Stars kept their poise and withstood a furious comeback from the Madisonville Thunder Wednesday night in the finals.</p><p>Having led most of the game, Opelousas suddenly found themselves down 20-18 with two minutes remaining. On the next two possessions, Christopher Freeman II was at the right place at the right time. He grabbed the offensive rebound and banked in put back shots to regain the lead. Opelousas would go on to win 24-20 and take home the Biddy tournament title at the Thibodaux Civic Center.</p><p>"I think experience really helped. Last year we finished eighth or ninth last year. Obviously we did a little better this year," Opelousas coach Jean Harrison said. "We worked hard to get back to this spot. Experience counts. It led the way for everybody else."</p><p>Brylan Green (10 points) Trent Murphy (seven), who was named Mr. Iddy Biddy as tournament MVP, powered Opelousas to an undefeated run. </p><p>Trent Caime scored a game high 12 points for Madisonville, whose only losses in the tourney were to Opelousas.</p><p>"I'm proud of our kids. They battled hard, and they've played great for the last five or six weeks," Madisonville coach Eddie Timmons. "(Opelousas) plays a similar style to us. The difference in the game was their big guys hurt us. We couldn't handle their big guys."</p><p>Both teams struggled from the floor early on. Murphy nailed back-to-back jumpers in the lane to put Opelousas up 6-2 after the first quarter. A layup from Bryce Coe cut Madisonville's deficit to 10-7 at halftime.</p><p>Green began the third quarter by driving into the lane for a basket plus the foul. When Murphy sank a jumper midway through the period, Opelousas had its biggest lead at 16-9. Caime closed out the quarter making 5-of-6 free throws to trim the Thunder deficit to 16-14 entering the final quarter.</p><p>Madisonville tied the game on a Grant Kemp jumper to start the fourth. After a Green layup gave Opelousas the lead again, Caime nailed successive running jumpers to put the Thunder ahead with just over two minutes left to play.</p><p>"At that point, we felt good about our chances of winning," Timmons explained. "We're here for a reason. Our kids don't quit, and certainly when we got that lead we were right where we thought we would be."</p><p>Then Freeman hit the boards and scored his only four points. Braylon Richard sank two free throws to ice the game for Opelousas.</p><p>"Those were some big rebounds. Chris has been rebounding well for us all year," Harrison noted. "He really came through at a time when it counted."</p><p>While the kids took home medals and plaques for their individual and team accomplishments, the biggest winner was probably the city of Thibodaux. </p><p>The five-day tournament generated plenty of positive feedback for the quality of play. Both coaches ensured that they would return in 2014.</p><p>"I think it's been a great experience for our kids to learn," Harrison said. "Now they see what a big-time tournament is really like. It's just going to make us better for the next year."</p><p>"Initially, we planned on going back-and-forth, but we enjoyed the experience enough that we decided to stay, so the kids missed a couple days of school," Timmons said. "I can't say enough about the people of Thibodaux. Our family and friends and fans enjoyed it, and we'll definitely be back. That's for sure."</p><p>MADISONVILLE 26, THIBODAUX 8's 23</p><p>Thibodaux took home third place in the tournament after relinquishing a two-point entering the fourth quarter.</p><p>Josh Weimer scored 10 points for Thibodaux, while Connor Parchman had seven for Madisonville</p><p>Thibodaux led 4-3 after the first quarter, trailed 12-8 at halftime and was ahead 19-17 after the third.</p><p>WEST ST. JAMES 26, SOUTH LAFOURCHE 7</p><p>West St. James scored 17 straight en route to the blowout win.</p><p>Ramon Ross put in 12 points for West St. James. Hayden Callais, Tyler Lee and Ben Wartin had two points each for South Lafourche</p><p>West St. James trailed 2-0 after the first, led 7-2 at intermission and 17-4 entering the fourth.</p><p>8-YEAR-OLD ALL-AMERICANS</p><p>Mayson Lawless and Shazz Preston; Thibodaux 8's</p><p>Cooper Cook; Thibodaux 7's</p><p>Tyler Lee; South Lafourche</p><p>Patrick Gisclair; Larose</p><p>Brandon Daniel; Raceland</p><p>Dillon Gunner; Patterson</p><p>Troy Santa Marina; Slidell 7's</p><p>Laron James; Kenner</p><p>Cemari Washington; East St. James</p><p>Kylon Harris; St. John</p><p>Colin Thieler, Trent Caime and Connor Parchman; Madisonville</p><p>Braylon Richard, Brylan Green, Christopher Freeman II and Trent Murphy (Mr. Iddy Biddy); Opelousas</p>